What type of metamorphosis do stored product pests undergo?

The type of metamorphosis that stored product pests undergo is holometaboly, which is characterized by four distinct life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. This process allows for significant changes in body form and function at each stage. For example, larvae of these pests may look entirely different from the adult forms and occupy different ecological niches; this separation allows for different food sources and habitats.

Holometaboly is particularly common in a wide variety of insects, including many stored product pests such as weevils and beetles. The complete metamorphosis allows these organisms to optimize survival and reproduction strategies by having specialized life stages that can exploit various environmental resources effectively. In contrast, ametaboly involves no significant change in form after hatching, while hemimetaboly involves incomplete metamorphosis with eggs hatching into a nymph that resembles the adult but lacks wings until the final molt. These alternative metamorphic processes do not apply to stored product pests, making holometaboly the correct classification.